We’re proud to announce that Attendance Works and the Connecticut State Department of Education have published an article in Kappan Magazine’s special section on chronic absenteeism.

The article, published in the October issue, lays out how Connecticut reduced chronic absenteeism across the state from 11.5% in 2012-13 to 10.6% in 2014-15. That means about 5,000 fewer students were chronically absent. The state is now implementing a five-year plan.

This inspiring story shows how state policy combined with district and school-level action can bring communities together resulting in action to support students in school every day. You can download and read the article here.

Kappan’s October issue includes an article by Johns Hopkins researcher Robert Balfanz showing how programs like Diplomas Now, Challenge 5: Strive for Fewer than Five Days Absent, and My Brother’s Keeper Success Mentors Initiative are reducing chronic absenteeeism. Other articles show similar successes in Chicago and New York.